Feeder for automatic firearms



New. 8, 1945. WEBB 2,38%,41-53 FEEDER FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARM Original Filed March 22, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l ch Q ' Event 02' if /m w gv ttorngy- Nov. 6, 3945. G. WEBB FEEDER FOR AUTOMATIC FI EEARM Original Filed March 22, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v NEW. 5, G W B FEEDER FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARM Original Filed March 22, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 E jg X 4 Patented Nov. 6, 1945 ili'l" eras FEEDER FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS George Webb, Hartford, Conn., assignor to Colts Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Gonm, a corporation of Connecticut Original application March 22, 1940, Serial No. 325,405. Divided and this application April 6, 1942', Serial No. 437,853

9 Claims.-

The present application comprises a division of application Ser. No, 325,405, filed March 22, 1940, for Automatic firearm.

While not necessarily so limited, the invention is particularly applicable to an automatic firearm and/or feeder therefor embodying some oral-1' of the inventions disclosed in the following prior patents: 1,525,065, J. M. Browning, February 3, 1925; 1,525,067, J. M. Browning, February 3, 1925; 1,692,328, J. M. Browning, November 20, 1928; 1,692,277, C. Pfeiffer; November 20, 1928; 2,365,484, F. T. Moore, December 19, 1944.

Said application, Ser. No. 325,405, of which the present application is a divisional application, relates generally to improvements in an automatic firearm and more particularly to the caliber 37 mm. automatic cannon type, said firearm being hereinafter referred to as a gun.

The invention forming the subject matter of the present invention comprises a plurality of types of feeders which have been constructed for use with a gun of the aforementioned type, but it is to be understood that the use of such feeders is not to be restricted only to this type of gun since said feeders are adaptable for use with other types of firearms.

A gun of the type referred to and which is described in detail in said application, Serial No; $25,405, has a breech casing which is provided with a feed box having suitable openings at either side and a feed channel extending transversely therethrough to receive a; loaded feeder, hereinafter conveniently referred to as a feeder assembly. Mechanism is also provided in the feed boxand the breech casing of the firearm which mechanism includes a feed slide adapted to engage the feeder to move the same in feeding direction. Saidmechanism also includes means to strip the cartridges from the feeder and includes further means to move the stripped cartridges, in proper sequence, into the breech of the firearm.

The feeders comprising the present inventionmay be made in either rigid or flexible form. The rigid feeder is preferably used where it is desired to feed a small number of cartridges to the gun, as for example, where a short burst of fire is desired. When a rigid feeder is used, the gun is preferably provided with a readily detachable loading tray which is port and guide the feeder to the feed channel of the gun. Said loading tray is described in detail in said application Ser. No. 325,405.

If a somewhat longer period of sustained firing is desired, the articulated-link feeder is preferadapted to supable since said feeder is usually intended to be" feeder. Said magazine forms the subject ma er of divisional application, S'er. No. 437,850, fil d on even date herewith. v

It is an object of the present invention to provide feeders having novel guide means formed thereon which guide means are adapted to cooperate with suitable guideways in the gun and magazine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved means for releasably retaining cartridge's in the feeder which means also prevents movement of the cartridges with respect to the feeder in a direction transverse to the direction of feed.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a rigid feeder having improved means thereon adapted to cooperate with mechanism in the feed box to prevent overfeeding of the feeder upon the introduction of the feeder into the feed channel. To this same end, it is another object of the invention to have the aforementioned means on the feeder so designed that the feeder is reversible with respect to both the cartridges and the feed mechanism of the feed box.

One further object of the invention is to provide a flexible, articulated-link feeder having the individual links thereof provided with novel pivotal means whichare so designed that said feed,-

er, when loaded with cartridges, may be coiled about a relatively small radius Without the cartridges interfering with each other.

A still further object of the invention is to provide eithera rigid or flexible articulated-link feeder having suitable construction which permits the feeder to be reversed with respect to both the cartridges and the feeding mechanism of the gun.

The invention has other objects and relates to various other details. of construction and com bination of parts as will be more fully apparent from the following specification;

In the accompanying drawings I have shown in detail several embodiments of the invention. and also certain variations thereof which have been found to be satisfactory. It Will be understood, however, that without departing from the spirit of the invention there may be various changes in the construction and that the drawings are not tobe construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims formposition. vIt is to be understood that the gun may be moved to various angles of elevation or depression and turned about and even disposed upside down but, notwithstanding, the relative terms enumerated above are to be considered with reference to the normal position of the gun.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly Figs. 4 through '7, the above mentioned feed box is designated at 6 and is preferably rectangular which engage the feeder to actuate it and control its movements,

Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation of a rigid feeder and co-engaging portions of the gun, such as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view similar to Fig. 4 but showing two rigid feeders being successively fed through the feed channel.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fi 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of an articulated-link feeder adapted to be used in a magazine. This view is on a scale smaller than shown in Figs. 1 through '7.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the feeder shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an end view of the feeder shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken on the line i l-H of Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along the line l2-l2 of Fig. 8. r

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but showing the adjustment of the spring clip to accommodate a cartridge.

Fig, 14 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the normal flexing of the feeder to conform to the requirements of a magazine.

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but showing the possible reverse flexing of the feeder.

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing an alternative feeder construction which may be used to provide end-to-end reversibility.

Fig. 17 is an end view of a flexible feeder similar to Fig. 10, but showing the feeder engaging a cartridge.

The firearm or gun fragmentarily shown in the drawings is generally similar to the firearm disclosed in the above-mentioned application Serial No. 325,405, and also some of the abovementioned list of patents and application for patent. For details not herein fully disclosed, reference may be had to said above-mentioned patents, and more particularly to said application Serial No. 325,405 and the Browning Patent No. 1,525,065,

In the drawings and the specification the front end of the gun is considered to be that from which the barrel projects, the same being that end toward which the noses of the cartridges shown in Fig. 6 are directed. The opposite end is the rear end. The normal" position of the gun is intended to mean that the gun is disposed with its cover plate uppermost and that the gun is held substantially horizontally. The relative terms forward and rearward are to be considered in the same sense as the terms front and rear. The terms lefthand and right-hand are to be considered with reference to Fig. 6, for instance, while facing the forward end of the gun toward which the noses of the cartridges point while the gun is in normal 42 is a single piece of metal.

in form, having side walls 6 and 6. The side walls 6 and 6 have depending portions which fit against and are secured to the side plates of the breech casing of the gun. The feed box is normally closed at the top by a cover l2. Openings 6 and 6 Fig. 5, are provided respectively in the side walls 6 and 6 of the feed box to provide an entrance to and an exit from a transverse feed channel 6 Figs. 5 and 6. The opening 6 at the left side is of such size as to receive not only the feeder but also the cartridges, while the opening '6 at the right side need only be large enough to permit the exit of the feeder.

A cartridge feeder of one type is designated as 42 and is clearly shown in Figs. 1 through '7, this bein a rigid feeder adapted to hold a small number of cartridges, as for instance five. I do not limit myself to a rigid feeder however, and may use an articulated-link feeder as hereinafter described.

The main body portion 2 of the feeder is formed of sheet metal and bent to the shape of an inverted U, as shown in Fig. 3. The depending side flanges of'the feeder body are provided with spaced notches or recesses 42 to receive the cartridges and position the same substantially parallelly to the top of the U-shaped member 42 In the case of a rigid feeder, the body portion The cartridges are held in place by means of spring clips 42, 42 as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 7, the cartridges being illustrated in dot-and-dash lines. Riveted or otherwise secured to the top of the U shaped member 42 is a plate 12 which is parallel to said top and constitutes a guide structure for the feeder. The plate 42 is preferably of such width that the depending flanges of the body portion are spaced inward from its edges. In the case of a rigid feeder, the plate or guide structure 42 like the body portion 42, is a single piece of metal. The two members 42 and 42 are transversely slotted at 42 42 for engagement with the feed pawls to be described. There may be variations in detail as to the formation of the slots 42 42 and the term feed slots will be used to generically designate the spaced portions of the feeder which are to be engaged by the feed pawls.

The feed slots 42 42 have the same spacing as the cartridges. When two feeders are placed in end-to-end contact as shown in Figs. 6 and '7, the spacing between the end slots 42 42 of the two feeders is approximately the same, but preferably it is a little greater. This small added length at the ends of the feeder makes it possible to provide more metal in the body flanges at the ends thereof adjacent the end notches or recesses 42* as shown at 42 in Fig. 5. Without this added length, the metal at 42 would be narrow and weak.

The top plate or guide structure 42 of the feeder is notched at least at one side as shown at 42, 42 and 42 the notches having the same spacing as the cartridges and as the feeding slots 42 42. The outer or trailing notch 42 is open at the outer or trailing end as shown. At the inner or leading end there is a bevel 42 for puraces- ,453

poses tobe described. Preferably the feeder is reversible. so that either end: may he foremost and; when so made, the. notches 42 l2 and 42 and also the bevel 12 are provided: at both: sides. The functions of the notches also hereinafter be described.

The U-shaped spring clips 42, 42 are preferably each provided in their respective'legs: with a bifurcation orslot- 42 =such as izllustratedin Fig- 3. This; effect; provides each. leg of. the clip a pair of independently movable resilient: fingers 42 Each spring finger has an inward extending detent 32 formed therein. adjacent the outer end of. the finger and near the outer edgeof each. The projectile portion or member of' each cartridge is provided with: an annular groove: 42% When. the cartridge is mounted in. the feeder between: the. fingers. 42 andwithin the confines of the notches d2 of the side flanges; the: cartridge is so placed. longitudinall thereof. with respect to the feeder that the forwardmost pair of oppo1- sitely disposed cletentsv 42. engage the annular groove 32 of the cartridge to prevent movement of the cartridge with respect to the feeder in a direction longitudinal of the cartridge. It will be:

seenthat the other pair of detents'fiz which are not received. in the" cartridge groove will frictionally engage the outer surface of the cartridge to assist the first-mentioned pair of detent's and. their spring fingers in releasably retaining the.- cartridge within the feeder. Proper frictional. engagement between the respective detentsse or each clip and the: cartridge. will be assured in view of the mounting of each detent on. an independently movable resilient finger 42 In practice, the. cartridges are placed in the feeder priorto intended use. In using the: firearnr a rigid feeder assembly is placed on the loading tray Illand pushed intothe feed channel 6 of the feed box.

For supporting and guiding the feeder and the cartridges as they enter and pass through the feed channel, there are provided two parallel guide plates ormembers 43; 531 Figs; 3 and 4, which are provided with flanges 43 Eli bywhich they are secured to the right handside of the feed box 6;. as shown; in Fig. 4.. These feeder guide members.- are so positioned that the body portion 42* of the feeder with its parallel; depending side flanges fits betweenthem, thus enabling the guide structure 42 of. the feeder to: rest upon the plates as shown in Fig. 3.. The feeder assembly is thus supported. and accurately guided. The guide members 43, t3 have downward facing cam surfaces 43 which engage the cartridges to force'- or strip them downward out of: engagement with the clips 42 when the feeder assembly is moved" to carry each successive cartridge to or near a central. position in the gun. Preferably the guide members 43, 63 have grooves 63, 53 to provide clearance for the heads of the pivot pins orrivets 79 of the articulated-link feeder hereinafter described.

Two separate feed slide guide members 44 and 45 extend transversely between the side walls of the feed box adjacent the openings 5* and 6 and near the top-of the box; Transversely movablei-n suitable grooves in the guide members isafeed slide 46. Referring particularly to Fig. 4, it will be observed that the feed slide. E6 has: longi tudinal tongues 56 and 26. for: fitting suitable grooves in the guide members M and 4-5.

Carried by the feed slide 45 is a feed tooth adapted. to successively engage the feeder assembly to effectfeeding, andpreferably there are two time and they have other important advantages which:- will be hereinafter explained; Whenthe feederhas: feed" slots such as 42"; 42- the teeth engage these slots. The slide is so constructed and positioned that at the beginning of each feed-- ing. movement as shown in Figs. 5 and 7-, the outer toothl is considerably outside the feed box and the inner tooth 48 is inside the feed box.

As shown, particularly in Figs. Sand '1, the two feed teeth: on the slide Mi areformed as" parts of two separate: pawls GT and 48 pivotally connected with thefeedl slide. In the feed slide4'6' is a largecentral receses open at the bottom and partly closed at the top. The pawl M is positioned in the recess in: the slide, being mounted on a pivot pin ll At the outer end of the pawl is a tooth 41 adapted to successively enter the slots 42', 42 in. the feeder. The second" feed pawl 48 is pivotally connected at 48* with the feed slide, and at itsinner end said 'pawl' 48 has a tooth 48" which is adapted to successively enter the feed slots-42 $2 of the feeder. It will be seen that the two pawls extend inopposite directions from their respective pivots and that they overlap each other. Separate springs 4-1 and 48' bias the respective pawls s1 and 48 to cause the teeth 4-? and 48 to enter the saidslots 42; 42

A manually operable means is provided for simultaneously withdrawing both of the teeth 41' and 48 from engagement with the feed slots of the feeder in order to permit the feeder to be withdrawn from the feed channel in the retro- .to withdraw the tooth 41 from the feeder. and

when it is so moved the aforesaid projections move the pawl 48 to simultaneously withdraw the tooth 48 A button 49 is carried on the slide 45, this button having astem 49* which engages-the tail'portl'on 4 of the pawl 41. Manual pressure on thebutton 49 will move both of the pawls 4-1 and 48' to withdraw the teeth 41 and 48 from the feeder;

Carried by the feed slide T6 is an actuating block 50 which is connected to the feed slide 46 by a removable pi'n 5!! carried by the block 50 which pin normally enters a hole in the slide to hold thebl'ock in place as shown in Figs. 4' through 6'. The block 50 when connected with the slide serves to hold the slide in place, the block engaging the walls of the feed box to prevent removal of the slide. The block 50 provides av substantial body'of' metal for engagement by the oscillatable feed lever 51 which is received in an open-sided notch 50 in the block 50; the lever 51- thus serving to reciprocate the slide 46'. The lever 51' is oscillated by mechanism actuated by the reciprocation of certain moving parts of the gun which are illustrated and described in said mechanism when th cover plate I2 is removed. When the pin 50 is provided, the coverlZ has an opening to provide clearance for the pin,there being an enclosing housing l2 over the opening.

Prior to initial loading of the gun, the various parts of the gun (but not the feeder assembly) may be assumed to be in the relative positions shown in Figs. 4 through 7. The feeder assembly, that is the feeder with cartridges therein, is placed on the loading tray I4 and then pushed manually into the feed channel, being guided by the guide members 43, 43. When the feeder reaches approximately the intermediate position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the first cartridge has been withdrawn from its clip 42 by the cam surfaces 43', 43 and the said first cartridge then drops into position to be subsequently moved into the breech by mechanism not forming a part of the present invention but which is fully described in said application, Serial No. 325.405.

As already explained, the feeding of the first cartridge is effected manually by pushing the feeder 42 with the cartridges therein into the feed channel of the gun. The feeder must be pushed approximately to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5. While it is necessary to advance the feeder far enough to release the first cartridge and permit it to be pushed into the chamber of the barrel, it is highly important that means be provided for preventing the feeder from being advanced too far. Without a suitable means for preventing it, the operator through carelessness or inadvertence might push the feeder so far 'as to release arsecond cartridge before the firing of the first thus causing a' serious jamming of the 'gun. One means for preventing manual overfeeding is disclosed in the before-mentioned application in the name of F. T. Moore, Serial No. 305,240. In accordance with the present invention, I have utilized some of the features disclosed in the said Moore application but I have provided a construction which is different in many details and which has numerous importantv advantages.

In accordance with the present invention a stop is provided which is normally operative to limit the movement of the feeder assembly in the feeding direction, particularly the initial manual movement thereof, and in association with the stop there is provided means for automatically moving the stop out of its operative position upon feeding movement of the slide so as to permit the slide to move the feeder assembly. Preferably and as shown, the stop engages directly -with the feeder itself, although this may,not be essential.

As shown, particularly in Fig. 4 the feeder stop is a-pawl 12 which is pivotally mounted at l2 on the guide member 44, this pawl having a tooth [2 which is adapted to engage the feeder. The pawl 12 is so positioned that its bottom face is immediately adjacent the top face of the front guide member 43. The pawl carries a spring pressed plunger 12 which biases it in the feederengaging direction. When the feeder is first advanced through the feed channel, the pawl 12 is cammed out of the way by the .bevel 42 at the forward or leading end of the feeder and the tooth l2 enters the first notch 42 thus positively preventing the operator from moving the feeder beyond the position shown in Fig. 4.

It will be particularly observed that the feeder, when engaged by the stop 12 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is so positioned that the second notch 421 by the slide.

will be engaged by the inner feed p wl 48 up n the first feeding movement of the slide. In fact if only one feeder were to be used the first slot 42 might be entirely omitted. This first slot is however useful when two feeders are used in immediate succession as will be hereinafter explained.

Obviously the pawl or stop I2 must be withdrawn from the notch in the feeder in order to permit the feeder to be automatically advanced by the feed pawls, and a suitable means is provided for this purpose. The means for moving the stop or pawl acts in timed relation with the feeding movement of the feed slide. As shown, the pawl 12 is provided with an upstanding lug 12 and the forward side of the feed slide, at its innermost end, is provided wtih a bevel 4B which engages the said lug when the feed slide is moved in the feeding direction. The parts are so related that the stop or pawl 12 is cammed forward by the bevel 46 before the feed slide has moved far enough for the feed pawls 41 and 48 thereon to engage the feed slots 42, 42 of the feeder.

Upon the feed slide 46 starting to move from the position in Figs. 4 and 5, the stop '12 is withdrawn from the first notch 42 of the feeder. The feed slide continues to be moved by the lever 51 to a position'in which the right-hand end of the feed slide is adjacent the right-hand wall of the feed box and in so doin carries the feeder with it. While being thus moved, the next cartridge is released by the stripper cams 43 43'. Immediately after reaching the extreme right-hand position, the slide is returned to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The feed pawls on the return movement are also brought back to their proper positions for engaging the next following feedslots of the feeder. The feed slide moves through a distance slightly greater than the spacing between adjacent feed slots, this overtravel serving to insure proper engagement of the feed pawls with the feedslots even under the most adverse conditions.

I have stated that the feeder is advanced by 'the first feeding movement of the feed slide to a position adjacent the right-hand side of the feed box. However, without special provision for preventing it, the feeder might be advanced to a position much beyond that to which it is moved This might occur by reason of the inertia of the rapidly moving feeder and cartridges, or it might occur by reason of pressure manually exerted on the feeder. Manual pressure on the feeder is particularly likely to be encountered if the operator has placed a second feeder assembly on the shelf [4 in position to immediately follow the first feeder. In order to prevent any substantial or harmful overtravel of the feeder, following an automatic feeding movement, the forward side of the feed slide 46 is recessed at 46 so as to permit the stop 12 to enter the next following notch 42.

Not only during the first but also during successive feeding movements of the feed slide 46, the stop 12 is cammed laterally by the bevel 46 on the slide so that it cannot interfere with the feeding movement of the feeder. It will thus be seen that I have made provision not only for limiting the initial manual movement of the feeder, but also for limiting each successive autodrawn manually after the firing'of the last cartridge. If the notch 42 were not open as shown, the feeder would be held by the stop 'l2. Following the last feeding movement of the feeder when the stop is entered in the notch 42 there may be overtravel of the feeder by reason of inertia. Such overtravel would be harmless as the feeder would be empty.

Also mounted on the guide member 44 is a second pawl or retainer 13 somewhat similar to the pawl or stop i2. This pawl is pivoted at 13 and it has a tooth 13 adapted to enter the successive notches 42 42. A spring-pressed plunger '13 serves to bias the pawl in the direction to engage the feeder. The tooth 13 is beveled so as not to interfere with advancing movement of the feeder but the tooth is adapted to enter one or another of the notches 42 42 or 42 to prevent any substantial retrograde movement of the feeder. Such retrograde movement might occur by reason of some accidental engagement of the feed slide with the feeder, or by reason of an attempt by the operator to withdraw the feeder after entering it in the feed channel. As the result of the provision of the stop and the retainer, the feeder is held in such position that feeding will necessarily occur upon the next feeding movement of the feed slide.

Some retrograde movement of the feeder is pos sible when the feeder is advanced to the extreme left-hand position, but not enough such movement to interfere with normal feeding. With the feeder in the position to which it is normally moved by the feed slide as shown in Fig. 4, only a very little retrograde movement is possible. The stop and the retainer are spaced apart by a distance substantially greater than the normal feeding distance, so that the retainer may be effective with the feeder in either of the two positions referred to.

The two pawls 72 and 13 are provided respectively with upstanding pins 112 and 13 by means of which the pawls can be withdrawn manually. If it is desired to remove the feeder toward the left prior to firing of all .of the cartridges, this can be done by first moving the retainer pawl 13 forward by means of the pin 33 and by lifting the pawls 41 and 48 by means of the button 4 9. If an incompletely filled feeder should be used, that is a feeder with the last one or more clips empty, it might be desirable to manually remove the feeder in the forward direction, that is toward the right. This could be done by first pressing the stop pawl 12 forward by means of the pin 12 or it could be done by manually advancing the feed slide far enough to withdraw the pawl.

It has already been pointed out that the feeder is provided at both sides with the notches 42 42, M and with the bevel 432 This makes the feeder reversible .so that it is not necessary for the cartridges to be mounted in a predetermined relationship with the feeder.

The ends of the feeders are so spaced from the end feeding slots 142 42 that a second feeder can follow the first feeder in .end-to-end engagement to provide uninterrupted firing. Figs. 6 and 7 .show two feeders in position in the gun, one feedor being in the position A which itoccupies prior to the feeding of the last cartridge andthe second feeder being in the position B which is immediately adjacent the first. As already stated, the spacing between the two adjacent feed slots 42, .42 of the two feeders is approximately the same as the spacing between two adjacent feed slots of the same feeder.

As shown, the spacing is slightly greater but there is not enoughdiiference to interfere with feeding.

As shown in Fig. 7, the last engageable portion 1 of the first feeder assembly, that is the last notch 22 is in position to be en a ed by t p 43 and the first eng-ageable portion of the second feeder assembly, that is the first notch 32 is in position to be engaged by the par/V1431. With the feeders or feeder assemblies in the positions shown, both of them Will be moved simultaneously upon the next feeding movement of the slide; but on account of the slight difference in slot spacing both feeders are moved by the pawl 4?. It will be clear that both pawls are preferable for the continuous feeding of two successive feeders in the manner described. If the pawl i8 were omitted it would be impossible to feed the last cartridge in a feeder in the position A when no subsequent feeder is in place. If the pawl 47 were omitted it would be necessary for the operator to advance the second feeder manually beyond the position B far enough for it to be engaged by the pawl 48. The disclosed construction with two teeth or two pawls makes it possible for a feeder assembly to be successively advanced when only partly entered in the feed channel, as for instance when in the position B of the second feeder assembly in Fig. '7. This construction enables the operator to let go of the second feeder assembly as soon as it reaches the position shown in Fig. 7. Thus the operator has additional time within which to place.

The described construction also makes it possible for a feeder orfeeder assembly to be engaged at the position B shown in Fig. '7 and advanced beyond the position A, even though there may not be any other feede immediately following it. Thus, a feeder assembly that may be the last of a series has its first engageable portion or feed slot engaged by the outer tooth 47 in the position B, to start the feeding movement, and subsequently has its last engageable portion or feed slot engaged by the inner tooth 48 in the position A, to complete the feeding movement. During the movement of a feeder-0r feeder assembly through the feed channel each engageable portion or feed slot is engaged successively by both teeth.

The rigid feeder 82 already described is shown as being adapted to carry five cartridges and a similar rigid feeder might be made for a somewhat greater number of cartridges. However, under some conditions it is desirable to provide a feeder of such greater capacity that it would notbe practicable to use the same rigid construction which is exemplified by the feeder 52. In Figs. 8 through I! I have shown an alternative feeder which is flexible and which is particularly adapted to be used with a cartridge magazine which forms the subject matter of divisional application, Serial No. 437,850, filed on even date herewith. The articulated-link feeder and magazine are particularly adapted for airplane use, where continued firing may be desirable without the necessity for manual insertion of short feeder assemblies.

The flexible articulated-link feeder shown in Figs. 8 through 15 is designated in its entirety by 74. It comprises a number of intermediate links 75, a leading link Hi and a trailing link 11,. Each of the links has a body portion 78 which is formed of sheet metal and bent to the shape of an inverted U as shown in Fig. 10. This is of the same size and shape as the main body portion hi of the rigid feeder 42. The depending side flanges put a third feeder assembly in of each body portion 18 are provided'with notches or recesses [8 for receiving a cartridge, each of the side flanges being thus provided with two spaced legs 18 and 18. Two of the legs, as for instance, the two legs 18, are ofiset so as to fit between the adjacent legs I8 of the next adjacent link. The legs that thus overlap are joined by pivot pins or rivets 19, 19. The several connected body portions 18, 18 constitute the main body portion of the articulated-link feeder. Each of the links also has a spring clip 80 for holding a cartridge, this clip being similar to the spring clips 42 already referred to in connection with the feeder 42.

The spring clips 80 are each provided with slots 80 and inward extending detents 80 which respectively correspond in physical detail and function to the slots 42 and detents t2 of the rigid feeder 42, the latter being illustrated in Fig. 3 and described in the foregoing. 7

Riveted or otherwise secured to the top of the U-shaped member 18 of each intermediate link 15 is a flat plate 75* which has the same crosssectional size and shape as the plate 42 of the rigid feeder 42. A somewhat similar plate Hi is provided for the leading link I6 and a somewhat similar plate 'l'l for the trailing link 11. The several separate plates 15*, Hi and H are in alignment when the articulated-link feeder is straight and they constitute the top plate or guide structure of the feeder. The top plate l6 of the leading link differs in that it is considerably longer to facilitate the entry of the feeder into the feed channel of the gun as will be more apparent from the description which follows. Preferably the top plate 76* carries a legend giving instructions as to the relative positioning of the cartridges. The top plates 15 and IE5 are notched at one side at W 76*, the notches being similar to the notches 4% of the feeder 42 and being similarly spaced. The top plate I! of the trailing link has a notch li which is open at the outer end, being similar to the notch 42 of the feeder 52. Each of the top plates, 15 Hi and H together with the corresponding body portions 18, are transversely slotted at "75, 16 and 17, the spacing between the slots being the same as the spacing between the slots 42 of the feeder 42. v c

The several plates 15 '16 and 'I'I are closely adjacent when the feeder is straight. v The axes of the cartridges are at least as close to the plates as are the axes of the pivotal connections at it, it, and preferably the pivotal axes of the cartridges are closer to the plates than are the pivotal axes at 19. This causes the cartridges, and incidentally the plates also, to separate when the feeder is normally flexed, as shown in Fig. 14, in order to accommodate itself to thdmagazine in which it may be entered. It will be obvious that if the relationship of the axes were reversed the cartridges would be brought closer together upon flexing, and this would necessitate an unnecessarily large spacing between the cartridges when the feeder is straight.

Preferably the plates, although closly adjacent, have narrow spaces between them which permit the feeder to flex to a small extent in the reverse direction as shown in Fig. 15 This reverse flex. ing is of assistance to the operator in loading the magazine, and it avoids any likelihood of injury to the feeder as the result of careless handling.

The articulated-link feederas shown in Figs. 8 through 15 is not reversible, it being necessary. to load the cartridges in a predetermined relation to the feeder in order that the feeder may properly function with the magazine and the gun. I may,

however, provide a reversible articulated-link feeder as indicated by ill in Fig. 16. This feeder is similar to the feeder 14, the intermediate links 82 being exactly like the links 15 except that the top plates 82 have notches 82 at both sides. Either one of the end links 83 may be the leading link or the trailing link. The top plate 83 of each link 83 is of the same length asthe top plate "it of the feeder T4, and it is provided at one side with a notch 83 like the notch 75 and is provided at the other side with a notch 83 like the notch 11*. The feeder 8l 'may be used with either end foremost.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing that the loading tray for the rigid cartridge feeder assembly and the magazine for the flexible cartridge feeder assembly are interchangeably connectible with the firearm, the same connection devices on the firearm being used for both. Said connecting devices comprise the subject matter of divisional application, Serial No. 437,854, now United States Patent No. 2,359,263 filed on even date herewith. The rigid and the flexible cartridge feeders are provided with improved guide means and certain embodiments of the invention are directed to improvements inthe feeders whereby they are reversible. The spring clips of both the rigid and flexible feeders are provided with detail which accurately position the feeder With the cartridges not only in a direction parallel to the length of the feeder but also in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the cartridges. In the flexible feeder, improved means are used for pivotally connecting the articulated links together whereby the flexible feeder, when loaded with cartridges, may be curved helicoidally or otherwise with the radius of the curve being relatively small.

What I claim is: I

1. A feeder adapted to enter the feed channel of an automatic firearm and comprising in combination, a guide plate structure 'of substantially uniform width from end to end and having uniformly spacednotches in one ed e thereof, a substantially U-shaped member connected to but structurally separate from said plate, the sides of said member comprising parallel depending side flanges spaced inward from" the edges of said guide plate, and means positioned between the side flanges and spaced lengthwise of the feeder in accordance with the notch spacing for detachably holding a plurality of cartridges.

2. A feeder adapted to enter the feed channel of an automatic firearm and comprising in combination, a guide plate structure of substantially uniform Width from end to end and having uniformerly spaced notches in one edge thereof, the notch at the trailing end being open at the said end, parallel depending side flanges connected with the guide plate structure and spaced inward from the edges thereof, said flanges being provided with aligned cartridge-receiving notches extending inward from the outer edge of each flange, and means positioned between the side flanges and spaced lengthwise of the feeder in accordance with the notch spacing in the flanges for holding a plurality of cartridges therein.

3. A reversible feeder adapted to enter the feed channel of an automatic firearm with either end foremost, the said feeder comprising in combination, a guide plate structure of substantially uniform width from end to end and having uniformly spaced similar notches in both edges thereof, the notch at one end of one edge being open at the said end and the notch at the opposite end of the other edge being open at the said opposite end, parallel depending side flanges connected with the guide plate structure and spaced inward from the edges thereof, said flanges being provided with aligned cartridge-receiving notches extending inward from the outer edge of each flange, and means positioned between the side flanges and spaced lengthwise of the feeder in accordance with the notch spacing in the flanges for holding a plurality of cartridges therein.

4. A feeder adapted to hold cartridges each provided with an annular groove and also adapted to be fed through the feed channel of an automatic firearm, said feeder comprising a body portion, resilient clips spaced on the body portion in the direction of feed for reversibly holding a plurality of cartridges thereon and against relative movement in said direction, said clips each comprising pairs of opposed spring fingers with the pairs spaced in a direction transverse to the direction of feed, and a detent formed on one spring finger of each pair, said detent on said finger of one pair being adapted to enter the groove of the cartridge engaged by the clip to position the cartridge on the body portion in a direction transverse to said first direction when said cartridge is extending with its nose in one direction and the detent on the finger of the other pair entering the groove of said cartridge for said purposes when the nose of said cartridge is extending in the reverse direction.

5. A feeder adapted to hold cartridges provided with an annular groove and also adapted to be fed through the feed channel of an automatic firearm, said feeder comprising a body portion, substantially parallelly spaced flanges projecting from one side of the body portion and each provided with spaced notches in one edge thereof, resilient U-shaped clips disposed between said flanges and spaced on the body portion in the direction of feed and adapted to reversibly hold a plurality of cartridges within the spaced notches with the noses of the cartridges extending unidirectionally, the legs of each U-shaped clip being bifurcated to form a, pair of resilient fingers, and an inward directed detent formed on each spring finger, certain of said detents being adapted to enter the annular grooves of the cartridges to properl position the cartridges in a direction transverse to the direction of feed when the noses of the cartridges extend in one direction and the other detents entering the grooves of said reartridges when the noses thereof extend in the reverse direction.

6. An articulated-link feeder adapted to enter the feed channel of an automatic firearm and comprising in combination, a plurality of similar links having body members which are U- shaped in cross section with their flanges permanently pivotally connected in series for relative pivotal movements about transverse axes, a plurality of means carried by the respective body members for holding cartridges in regular alignment with their axes parallel to the said pivotal axes, and a plurality of plates on the respective body members which align with each other when the feeder is straight and constitute a guide structure therefor, the said plates having a width such that the flanges of the body members are spaced inward from the edges thereof.

'7. An articulated-link feeder adapted to enter the feed channel of an automatic firearm and comprising in combination, a plurality of similar links having body members which are U- shaped in cross section with their legs comprising flanges permanently pivotally connected in series for relative pivotal movements about transverse axes, the several flanges being recessed between the pivotal connections to receive and accurately align a plurality of cartridges in substantially parallel relationship, a plurality of means carried by the respective body members for holding cartridges in the recesses of the flanges with their axes parallel to the said pivotal axes, and a plurality of plates on the respective body members which align with each other when the feeder is straight and constitute a guide structure therefor.

8. An articulated-link feeder adapted to enter the feed channel of an automatic firearm and comprising in combination, a plurality of similar links having body members which are U- shaped in cross section with their legs comprising flanges permanently pivotally connected in series for relative pivotal movements about transverse axes, the several flanges being recessed between the pivotal connections to receive and accurately align a plurality of cartridges in substantially parallel relationship, a plurality of plates on the respective body members which align with each other when the feeder is straight and constitute a guide structure therefor and a plurality of means carried by the respective body members for holding cartridges in the recesses of the flanges with their axes parallel to the said pivotal aXes, the axes of the cartridges being at least as close to the plates as are the axes of the pivotal connections.

9. An articulated-link feeder adapted to enter the feed channel of an automatic firearm and comprising in combination, a plurality of similar links having body members which are U-shaped in cross section with their legs comprising flanges permanently pivotally connected in series for relative pivotal movements about transverse axes, the several flanges being recessed between the pivotal connections to receive cartridges, a plurality of plates on the respective body members having narrow spaces between them and which align with each other when the feeder is straight and constitute a guide structure therefor, and a plurality of means carried by the respective body members for holding cartridges in the recesses of the flanges with their axes parallel to the said pivotal axes, the axes of the cartridges being at least as close to the plates as are the axes of the pivotal connections.

GEORGE WEBB. 

